Three impact evaluations in the province of Barcelona libraries (original) (raw)

New instruments for impact assessment: study of an academic library

2016

This study presents a review of new instruments for the impact assessment of libraries and a case study of the evaluation impact of the Library of the Faculty of Science, University of Porto (FCUP), from the students' point of view. We conducted a mixed methods research, i.e., which includes both qualitative data, to describe characteristics, in particular human actions, and quantitative data, represented by numbers that indicate exact amounts which can be statistically manipulated. Applying International Standard ISO16439:2014 (E)-Information and documentation-Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries, we collected, 20 opinion texts from students of different nationalities, published in «Notícias da Biblioteca», from January 2013 to December 2014 and have conducted seven interviews.

Innovative impact planning and assessment through Global Libraries

Performance Measurement and Metrics, 2015

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to describe a range of innovative (for public library performance measurement and impact assessment) methods and tools developed by country teams as part of the Global Libraries (GL) initiative. Short reports are provided on: a return on investment study, a simplified data processing system for library managers and an online reporting system for public libraries in Ukraine; a study of the public image of Polish libraries in print mass media, two approaches to sustainability of performance measurement and impact assessment in Romania, through tools to conduct pop-up surveys and use of agricultural subsidies support data, assessments of changes in public library managers' planning efforts in Poland and of their perceptions of libraries and their own role, using Modified Delphi forecasting, in Lithuania, two ways of focussing on the world of public library users by engaging non-profit organizations in library research in Poland and conducting impact studies in virtual environments in Chile. Design/methodology/approach-A range of methods and tools and their uses are described. Findings-No specific research findings are reported. Research limitations/implications-All of these tools and methods have been (or are being) trialed in national public library contexts; some have been developed over several years. Practical implications-Useful for people in other (non-GL) countries who may be contemplating public library evaluation at regional, national or local level or who are interested in performance measurement and impact evaluation. Social implications-This paper is part of a GL effort to share what participants have learnt about impact planning and assessment in public libraries with the wider international libraries community.

Measuring the Impact of Libraries

2017

of paper for the 38th Annual IATUL Conference Measuring the impact of libraries In 2016, our university was asked to provide input to the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research’s white paper on quality in higher education. At a meeting with the pro-rector for education, who is my boss, I said that we should also highlight the importance of the libraries. She answered that it is good to have libraries, but do they actually contribute to the quality of education? If so, how? Of course the libraries contribute to improving the quality of education, I said, there are many surveys documenting the fact. I’ll get back to that, I said! My boss doesn't have a negative attitude to libraries, which she considers to be a good thing, but she doesn't know enough about what contributions a library can make to education and research. Nor do I, for that matter. We lack documentation. Documentation is a crucial factor in an age when many institutions can no longer afford to spend money ...

Patterns of perceived public library outcomes in five countries

Journal of Documentation, 2016

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare the perceived benefits of public libraries between five culturally different countries: Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, South Korea and the USA. Design/methodology/approach – The data were based on representative samples of Finnish, Norwegian, Dutch, Korean and American adult library users. In Finland a mail survey was used and in other countries web surveys were used for data collection. The distribution of the proportion of those benefiting from the library in various areas of life at least sometimes was compared across countries. The pattern of benefits was compared across countries by forming four outcome indexes from the 19 benefit areas. The differences in the outcomes between the countries were explained by demographics and library use variables. Findings – The intensity of perceived benefits differ considerably, with the Finns and Americans reporting a higher level of benefits than the South Koreans, who in turn derive more...

Models explaining the perceived outcomes of public libraries

Journal of Documentation, 2014

Purpose-The benefits of public libraries as perceived by adults in everyday activities, in cultural activities and in career are modeled by multivariate techniques. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach-The survey data are based on a representative sample of 1,000 Finnish adults ranging from 15 to 79 years. The perceived benefits were modeled by linear regression analysis and by path analysis. Findings-The models explain 27-32 percent of the variation in the three benefit types observed. The role and the explanatory power of the factors included in the models vary to a certain extent between the benefit types. Research limitations/implications-The results are generalizable at least to small, wealthy welfare states with a well-developed public library system. Practical implications-It seems that the public library functions relatively more as a source of information for everyday activities in older age groups, whereas more as a source of information for career in younger age groups. The public library should profile its services accordingly. Originality/value-This is first study to model the factors associated with the benefits adults derive by using the public library in the major areas of life.

Measuring the public library's societal value: A methodological research program

IFLA Journal, 2013

Public libraries in the Netherlands face growing scepticism about their value to communities and society at large. The digitization of media, information and communication gives rise to questions about the library's function, as it still is based mainly on physical service provision. Furthermore, the current economic recession causes local, regional and national governments to critically question every euro spent on cultural institutions. In this climate, there is a growing need for public libraries to show their worth-not only in an economical, but also in a more sociological sense. As standardized measurements for these values are still lacking, a research program was started to develop these outcome measurements. In this paper, we sketch the rationale behind this program and the steps the Netherlands Institute of Public Libraries is taking to develop a measurement instrument geared at validly and reliably demonstrating the societal value of public libraries. Results from the first stages of the research program will be presented: a theoretical framework of the (possible) impact of libraries on Dutch society, based on the findings of a literature study and qualitative research. The findings help us identify and conceptually enrich five domains of possible impact: cognitive, social, cultural, affective and economical. This outcome framework will guide the development of a measuring instrument.

Exploring the use of libcitations as an altmetric with local public libraries

CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research - Zenodo, 2022

All papers published in this conference proceedings have been peer reviewed through a peer review process administered by the proceedings Editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to the professional and scientific standards expected of a conference proceedings.